Ruth Hanson

America, 1887. In a country healing from the horrors of the Civil War, the American West has never been more treacherous. Evil men do as they please, and the often faulty and corrupt justice system does little to nothing to help their victims. Enter the Railwalkers. Bandits whose only goal is to punish those whom the law has allowed to walk free. Some think they're an 28 legend, meant to scare would-be criminals into submission. Some see them as no different than the murderers they kill, while to others, they are angels of mercy. To Violet Donovan, they are family. Growing up as the sole heiress to the sizable Donovan estate, Violet's place of privilege allowed her wild spirit to flourish. Despite the pressures of her sex -- find a husband, stay pretty, have children, be subservient, don't speak out of line -- Violet is passionate, loud, stubborn, and untamed. However, at the ripe, marriageable age of twenty, Violet faces the fact that she may have to give in to her mother's wishes and marry mean, ugly Eustace Carpenter, the only other family name in their little town with comparable worth. But Violet's life changes forever when she is saved from an attacker by a strange woman. A woman who, like Violet, doesn't exactly fit the mold. Unfortunately Violet gets mixed up in a murder charge and has to leave everything she knows for a life on the run from the law. Through divine intervention, she and the woman cross paths again, and Violet comes to know her and her comrades. They are Mei Wong, Linus Cooper, Sitting Bear, and Rory McNab. The infamous Railwalker gang.

The Railwalkers

“She said you’d be stubborn,” he remarked. “But she asked me…to say please.”


A moment passed. Two moments. Violet’s mouth felt like she was sucking poison. But finally, realizing that there were no other real options, Violet’s left hand took the pen, and in a shaky scrawl, she signed her own name.


Hearst exhaled in relief. “Good. She’ll be happy to hear this.” Hearst stood, leaning on his cane. “Would you care for an escort?”


Violet stood and shook her head. “My horse…?”


“Outside. As well as Mrs. Wong’s. She…told me that you let her borrow the black one.” Violet’s smile was watery, and she nodded. Limping from the sheriff’s office and into the blaring sunlight, she spotted Maple and Huī, gently gumming at their bits. She approached them both, and with her good arm, hugged their muzzles tight.


Chapter 189